Great Korean Empire 대한제국 Timeline: Differently大韩帝国 | ||||||
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Motto: 광명천지 "Let the land be enlightened" |
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Anthem: 대한제국 애국가 "Patriotic Song of the Great Korean Empire" |
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Location of Korea in East Asia
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Capital (and largest city) | Seoul | |||||
Official languages | Korean | |||||
Religion | Buddhism, Christianity, Sinhism | |||||
Government | Unitary constitutional monarchy | |||||
- | Emperor | Myeongjong Emperor | ||||
- | Prime Minister | Kim Jong-nam | ||||
Legislature | National Assembly | |||||
Establishment | ||||||
- | Empire proclaimed | 13 October 1897 | ||||
- | North–South Division | 22 March 1952 | ||||
- | Reunification | 17 March 1975 | ||||
Area | ||||||
- | Total | 219,155 km2 84,616 sq mi |
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Population | ||||||
- | Estimate | 76,814,821 (20th) | ||||
Currency | Won | |||||
Drives on the | left |
Korea (Korean:
With a population of over 76 million inhabitants, Korea is the 11th-most populous country in Asia and the 20th in the world. Its surface area of 219,155 square kilometers makes Asia's 22nd- and the world's 87th-largest country.
The name Korea is derived from Goguryeo, which was one of the great powers in East Asia during its time (from 37 BC to 668 AD), ruling most of the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria, parts of the Russian Far East and Inner Mongolia under Gwanggaeto the Great. Its capital, Seoul, is a major global city and a third of Korea's over 76 million people live in the Seoul Capital Area, one of the largest metropolitan economies in the world. Other important cities include Busan, Incheon, Pyongyang and Daegu.
The country is one of the most advanced democracies with the highest level of press freedom in Asia. Korea is a highly developed country and the world's 15th-largest economy by nominal GDP. Its citizens enjoy the world's fastest Internet connection speeds along with an excellent healthcare system, resulting in the third highest health adjusted life expectancy in the world.
History[]
The Korean Peninsula was inhabited as early as the Lower Paleolithic period. Its first kingdom was noted in Chinese records in the early 7th century BC. Following the unification of the Three Kingdoms of Korea into Silla and Balhae in the late 7th century, Korea was ruled by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392) and the Joseon dynasty (1392–1897).
The modern Korean Empire was founded in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty, after China won the Sino-Japanese War (1894–97) disputed with Japan over influence in Korea. The Chinese victory prevented Japanese annexation of Korea, after which Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwangmu Reform, a partial modernization and Westernization of the military, economy, land system, and education system, and of various industries.
After the brief but intense First Korean War (1950–52), a socialist regime occupied the northern portion of the peninsula, establishing the state that became known as North Korea. The remaining, unoccupied part of the peninsula became known as South Korea. The North-South division came to an end with the Second Korean War (1968–1975), arguably the bloodiest event in Korean history. After the reunification, Korea experienced a period of economic growth lasting until the early 2000s.
Administrative divisions[]
Name | Historical Province | Population | Area (km²) |
Capital/ City Seat | ||
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English | Hangul | Hanja | ||||
North Chungcheong | 충청북도 | 忠淸北道 | Chungcheong | 1,588,633 | 7,433 | Cheongju |
South Chungcheong | 충청남도 | 忠淸南道 | 2,064,665 | 8,204 | Hongseong | |
Daejeon | 대전광역시 | 大田廣域市 | 1,525,849 | 539.35 | Seo | |
Sejong | 세종특별자치시 | 世宗特別自治市 | 276,589 | 465.23 | Boram-dong | |
Gyeonggi | 경기도 | 京畿道 | Gyeonggi | 12,239,862 | 10,171 | Suwon |
Incheon | 인천광역시 | 仁川廣域市 | 1,062.60 | 2,753.59 | Namdong | |
Seoul | 서울특별시 | 首尔特別市 | 3,416,918 | 769.89 | Jung | |
Gangwon | 강원도 | 江原道 | Gangwon | 3,027,362 | 31,660 | Chuncheon |
Busan | 부산광역시 | 釜山廣域市 | Gyeongsang | 3,416,918 | 769.89 | Yeonje |
Daegu | 대구광역시 | 大邱廣域市 | 2,453,041 | 883.56 | Jung | |
North Gyeongsang | 경상북도 | 慶尙北道 | 2,739,179 | 19,030 | Andong | |
South Gyeongsang | 경상남도 | 慶尙南道 | 3,374,725 | 10,532 | Changwon | |
Ulsan | 울산광역시 | 蔚山廣域市 | 1,157,077 | 1,060.79 | Nam | |
North Hamgyeong | 함경북도 | 咸鏡北道 | Hamgyeong | 2,327,362 | 15,980 | Cheongjin |
South Hamgyeong | 함경남도 | 咸鏡南道 | 3,066,013 | 18,534 | Hamheung | |
Naseon | 나선특별시 | 羅先特別市 | 205,000 | 746 | Rajin | |
Yanggang | 양강도 | 兩江道 | 719,269 | 13,880 | Hyesan | |
North Hwanghae | 황해북도 | 黃海北道 | Hwanghae | 2,113,672 | 8,153.7 | Sariwon |
South Hwanghae | 황해남도 | 黃海南道 | 2,310,485 | 8,450.3 | Haeju | |
Kaesong | 개성특별시 | 開城特別市 | 308,440 | 1,309 | N/A | |
Gwangju | 광주광역시 | 光州廣域市 | Jeolla | 1,496,172 | 501.24 | Seo |
North Jeolla | 전라북도 | 全羅北道 | 1,895,882 | 8,043 | Jeonju | |
South Jeolla | 전라남도 | 全羅南道 | 1,938,136 | 11,858 | Muan | |
Jeju | 제주특별자치도 | 濟州特別自治道 | 583,284 | 1,849 | Jeju City | |
North Pyeongan | 평안북도 | 平安北道 | Pyeongan | 2,728,662 | 12,680.3 | Sinuiju |
South Pyeongan | 평안남도 | 平安南道 | 4,051,696 | 11,890.6 | Pyeongseong | |
Jagan | 자강도 | 慈江道 | 1,299,830 | 16,765 | Ganggye | |
Nampo | 남포특별시 | 南浦特別市 | 366,815 | 829 | Waudo | |
Pyeongan City | 평양특별시 | 平壤特別市 | 3,255,388 | 3,194 | Jung |
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